The Belgian Grand Prix was the final race of the summer before the short break that splits up the 2024 season. Being the final push for the first half of the year, many drivers hoped to showcase an impressive run during the race.
With Mercedes making a huge upgrade from the beginning of the season, they have been extremely successful in the past few weekends. After struggling with the car after Lewis Hamilton’s championship loss in 2021, the team seems to be back like they never left the top spots.
George Russell showed a masterclass of a drive during the Belgian Grand Prix. From choosing his own strategy and managing tyres after a one-stop, Russell managed to win the race, fending off fellow teammate Hamilton. Russell’s race was extremely impressive, showing his talent not only on track but his strategic knowledge as well.
Unfortunately for Russell, his car was found to be 1.5kg underweight by the FIA, resulting in his disqualification from the race. Hamilton was promoted up to first place, still allowing the team a win, but losing the best result from a team perspective simultaneously.
George Russell’s car was found to be underweight by the FIA, resulting in his disqualification from the race. Courtesy of Mercedes Media Centre/LAT Images.
It’s no shock Russell was disappointed, as his drive would have gone down as one of the season’s greatest. Disqualifications are tough to swallow on their own, but especially when it was of no fault of his own.
Following the race weekend, Mercedes released a statement regarding their insight into what might have gone wrong for Russell. Multiple contributing factors could have potentially led to the car losing too much weight, but it seems as if the plank eroded more than expected during the long stint.
Each Formula 1 car has a long wooden plank that runs from the front to the back of the car’s underside. The purpose of this plank is to measure the damage created by a race, ensuring driver’s safety and holding them accountable.
Russell’s tyres were also extremely worn down because of the one-stop strategy, resulting in a better chance of the car losing weight. Drivers themselves can also lose up to three kilos during a single race, with Russell losing more than expected on Sunday.
The two Mercedes cars were confirmed to have been the same weight before the beginning of the race, so it’s clear that it was only an issue for Russell. With the team having a three-week break, they will have time to further analyze the data to see everything that went wrong and how they can improve when Formula 1 returns.
Lewis Hamilton during the podium celebration in Belgium, before being promoted to race winner. Courtesy of Mercedes Media Centre/LAT Images.
The last disqualifications in the sport were seen at the 2023 Austin Grand Prix, with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both being taken out of the race after securing second and sixth place respectively.
As disqualifications seem to be rare in this sport particularly, many may not know the reasoning behind an action being taken like this. A driver may crash or retire from a race, but being fully disqualified is an entirely different circumstance.
Most disqualifications in recent years come from infringements found during post-race observations. There are very specific rules put in by the FIA to secure driver safety and to hold teams accountable for enforcing them each race.
There are a multitude of different things a driver can be disqualified for such as illegal fuel samples, plank wear, under or overweight cars, and much more. Overall, it can be frustrating for drivers and teams, as it eliminates any chance of scoring points and is a harsher penalty to receive.
A multitude of penalties can earn a driver a racing ban, a grid penalty, and at the worst: a ban from the sport itself. The extremely harsh actions do not occur often and penalty points are reset after a year, resulting in most drivers being marked safe from further action.
While Russell’s disqualification was unfortunately a result of the team’s mistake, he will have many chances to make his comeback and fight for more podiums and race wins. There are still 10 more races left for the 2024 season and Mercedes only seems to be going up from here.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell after the Belgian Grand Prix. Courtesy of Mercedes Media Centre/Sam Bloxham.
Formula 1 will return on August 23, kicking off the second half of the season in the Netherlands at the Dutch Grand Prix. With more potential upgrades from the teams, there is much to be expected for the final 10 races of 2024.
Edited by Breanna Ebisch
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